Morning Briefing May 14: Level 2 legal framework causes controversy

As the country wakes up to life at Alert Level 2, there’s unease about the legal framework that’s been put in place to enforce it.

Jacinda Ardern
Source: Getty

The Covid-19 Public Health Response Act passed under urgency last night, giving the Government and police sweeping powers to implement Level 2 restrictions.

Among other things, the new law allows police to enter homes without a warrant in order to shut down large gatherings.

Both National and ACT voted against the legislation, while the Human Rights Commission says it’s “deeply concerned” about the bill.

Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt says the Government hasn’t allowed enough time "for careful public democratic consideration of this Level 2 legislation". He says there are also concerns over disproportionate powers.

Meanwhile, Māori communities are concerned that police may be able to search marae without a warrant.

Ms Ardern says Budget 2020 will be delivered within “the most challenging economic conditions faces by any government since the Great Depression”, but she says the economy can get moving again quickly “if we make the right choices”.

Some are hoping those choices include long-term sustainability.

With the global lockdown having a positive impact on the climate, there are growing calls for the Government to not just deal with the crisis at hand, but to also look at keeping those environmental gains.

And economist Cameron Bagrie has told the Covid-19 select committee the Budget numbers “are going to be absolutely terrible”.

Today marks the 25-year anniversary of Team New Zealand lifting the America's Cup for the first time.

And dog friends will be allowed to reunite with their buddies under Level 2 today, but the Director-General of Health says they need to stick to the same rules as humans.

And finally...

Contestants from TVNZ show Survive The 80s.
Source: Seven Sharp

Shot just before lockdown, Survive The 80s is a new TV show that sends a bunch of Kiwi 20-somethings back to the days of Muldoon and landlines to see if they can handle life in a time that taste forgot.

Seven Sharp’s Jeremy Wells goes behind the scenes to speak to the contestants and the makers of the show – and winds up revealing he still knows all the words to the Gloss theme tune.